The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) announces a partnership with the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), the international governing body for snooker and English billiards.
Announced at The Indian Open in New Delhi, it means the ICSS and WPBSA working together on the integrity of professional snooker. It will include training and education, monitoring of international betting on snooker, investigation advice and support, and intelligence gathering.
Mohammed Hanzab, President of the ICSS, said: “On behalf of the ICSS, I would like to thank the WPBSA who have already shown their commitment to safeguarding the integrity of sport. Whilst many acknowledge the challenges the sports industry faces, the development of comprehensive integrity programmes not only shows strong leadership, openness and transparency but the determination to eradicate behaviour that threatens the very foundation of sport and its core values.”
And Chris Eaton, Director of Sport Integrity at the ICSS, said: “This landmark partnership clearly demonstrates to all stakeholders that the integrity of the sport is of the utmost priority for the WPBSA. It is crucial that sport governing bodies show proactive leadership in this area and I look forward to working with the WPBSA to develop new programmes that build on the work already being carried out by Jason Ferguson and his team.”
Jason Ferguson, Chairman of the WPBSA, said: “We are proud to carry the global weight of the ICSS network within our sport. This new agreement with the ICSS demonstrates the WPBSA’s commitment to integrity and our message to those who think about fixing matches is clear. We are watching, we will identify it, we will investigate, it has no place in our sport. At the WPBSA, we have already introduced a number of measures to safeguard the integrity of snooker, and we believe our global integrity partnership with the ICSS represents the next important step in the development of the WPBSA’s integrity strategy. I look forward to working with the ICSS’ Integrity team to implement the first ever programme of betting monitoring on international snooker, and also to capitalise on the unique expertise and capabilities the ICSS offers in the field of integrity.”
Meanwhile the player Stephen Lee is appealing against the finding of the tribunal, the sanction and the costs awarded. The WPBSA has asked Sport Resolutions UK to manage the appeal process and appoint an independent QC to chair the Appeals Committee. Briefly, the association suspended Lee for 12 years in September.
Visit the WPBSA website for details.
The WPBSA stressed its zero tolerance approach to match fixing. Jason Ferguson said: “We take no pride in having to deal with such serious issues. However this demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that snooker is free from corruption. It is an important part of our anti-corruption approach that players found to be involved in fixing matches or any aspect of a match are severely dealt with. We work closely with partners globally and the message we are sending is that if you get involved in match fixing you will be found out and removed from the sport.”
